TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

037*

CHLOE

Nite said that four of his friends would pick me up, and they were on time. I didn't ask their names but hearing them talking, I got to know them one by one.

Stan was the one who led this transportation, Cleoff was the one who drove, and the two, Shane and Lee, were sitting on my left and right sides.

I was totally nervous, especially being treated as a criminal that needed to be hauled from one place to another. The security they provided made me feel more frightened than safe. I closed my eyes and breathed in profoundly... The outcome of what I did because I stupidly connived with Nite is blowing to my face. This is my fault, as this is what anger and hatred gave me.

No one is talking among the four, and the silence deafens me. But who cares? I just need to go back to California, and then I can clear it all out. I need to clear Trace's name. I need to... I can't let him be accused of something he didn't do.

I tried not to let my sobs be heard by any of the men I was in this car with. The fact is... I don't know, but I am reluctant to go home. I was hesitant as I'd like to be with Trace.

It seems I am not happy to go back to California... I am not excited as I hope that Trace will find and rescue me. Nite threatened me that Trace would kill me, and forty percent I believed him, though... two days had passed, and if Trace wanted to save me, then why wasn't he coming for me?

I was in that deep thought when the man named Stan turned on the radio, and there I heard two radio commentators disseminating some information and opinion in regards to the 'abduction*' issue about me. I listened...

"...ayon sa PNP, si McIntyre ay hindi pa rin natatagpuan hanggang ngayon habang ang kumidnap sa kaniya na si Alberona ay patuloy na pinaghahanap. Si Dimagiba naman, ay ang abogado niyang si Atty. Lexus Keith Azarcon ang tanging humaharap sa mga taga-media at nilinaw na hindi magsasalita itong si Dimagiba at sa korte lang haharap. Akalain mo iyon, partner? Napakawalang kwenta ng mga katwiran ng kampo ng mga Dimagiba, 'di ba?"

"Oo, partner. At ito palang si McIntyre ay anak ng may-ari ng CJ, ang signature brand ng mga damit na kilala na natin at international ang market nito. Sinusubukan na ng team natin na tawagan ang parents ni McIntyre pero ayon sa mga gumagawa ng paraan makausap sila, ay ayaw nilang sagutin ang mga tawag dahil kakalibing lang ng nakatatandang kapatid nitong si Chloe McIntyre, nagluluksa pa ang pamilya nila. Nakakaawa, partner. Nang mabalitaan diumano ng ama ang nangyari rito sa bunsong anak na si Chloe, ay inatake sa puso ang CEO ng CJ..."

Daddy...

My eyes went bigger when I heard that Daddy had a heart attack. Oh my God... this situation is getting really out of hand. Why did I let this happen? Now I am torn between returning to California and wanting to talk to Trace and be with him.

"Ang sabi naman ng abogado ng pamilya McIntyre ay hindi muna sila magbibigay ng statement hanggang walang tumatawag na kidnappers* ng anak nila pero nakikipag-ugnayan na rin ang pamilya nila sa mga kinauukulan, at habang wala pa sa Pilipinas ang mga magulang nitong si Chloe ay ang kapatid ng ina nito, na nasa Baguio nakatira, ang humaharap muna at nag-aasikaso sa paghahanap nitong biktima."

"Nakakaawa talaga sila, partner."

"Kaya nga, partner. Ngayon ay kailangan na natin umaksyon din. Manawagan na rin tayo sa kampo ni Governor Patricio Salvacion Dimagiba, Sr... Gob! Huwag niyo na itago ang anak ninyo! Ilabas niyo ang rapist* na anak ninyo para sagutin ang mga katanungan sa kaniya. Kung patuloy na mawawala itong biktima niya at magtatago lang siya ay talagang pinatunayan ng pamilya niyo na may foul play at sana matauhan ang mga taga-Salvacion na matutong pumili ng karapat-dapat maging pinuno ng lugar niyo. Sa darating pa naman na eleksyon ay kayo pa rin ang gobernador at ang bunsong anak na babae niyo ang ilalaban para maging mayor ng El Tierra. Talaga nga naman... mahiya naman kayo!"